Corset Making for Fashion and Costume - Short Course at NTU

About

22 - 26 August 2022 | Duration - 10 am - 4 pm, one week
Nottingham Trent University
Course Fee - £795

Course Description

This practical course is for anyone who has a personal or professional interest in fashion, vintage dressmaking or costume who would like to develop the knowledge and skills needed to produce their own made-to-measure corsets.

The course will begin with a number of structured technical classes.

As it progresses, you'll be able to work on a more personal project, reflecting your style and interests.

On this course, you will:

 - Learn how to construct and fit a corset

 - Put in a centre front busk

 - Add eyelet fastening to the back

 - Work with artificial whale bone (which is the closest mimic to real whale bone) and see how this can be combined with both steel spiral and flexi steel bones to create a perfect fit.

 - Examples of the finished project will be available as a visual aid, and demonstrations of the various processes shown throughout.

What will you gain?

You’ll leave with a completed corset, corset pattern and the skills, knowledge and notes to create more.

​​​​​Level: Beginner

Entry requirement: You should have basic hand and machine sewing skills.

​​​​​​Where you'll learn: You will be based in the Waverley building at the heart of the City Campus, with access to the costume design studio space equipped with domestic sewing equipment.

You will have all the tools and materials required to make your corset provided.

You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.

Here's what some of our previous attendees have said:

'It was fantastic to be able to tap into all of the tutor's knowlegde. The course was great, thank you!' HS

'Definitely value for money' LW

'Really enjoyed seeing the project through from start to finish and liked the emphasis on techniques, learned an asful lot. Would certainly consider other short courses, this has been a real confidence boost' KD

Tutor Profile: 

Ruth Watkin started her career as a costume maker in the theatre (working for the Sheffield Crucible, Derby Theatre, First Family Entertainment and Nottingham Playhouse amongst others) where she gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in a whole range of costume construction skills.

She then specialised in historical costume, and now frequently make reproduction costume for the National Trust, English Heritage, and Historic Royal Palaces.

When Ruth’s not costume making she is either teaching costume construction and fashion history to the undergraduates of NTU's Costume Design and Making course, or writing instructional articles for the corsetry website Foundations Revealed.

Need accommodation?

You can book a self-catered, single room with private bathroom on our city campus, right next door to our studios and classrooms.